Falcon / Hawk / ???, Swiss Alps (1 Viewer)

[SimonG4ELI]

Went for a walk with the hound today, when I saw this bird from above I just said Kestrel to myself and kept on walking. 30 minutes later I got down to where the bird was - and now I am not sure.

Reasons:

[1] normally I see two male kestrel, here's only one bird.
[2] we have an occasional Goshawk around here.

Anyway - looks like a scruffy juvenile or something that's molting anyway, and I just don't have enough experience at all to ID this.

As you'll see - light was very variable.

When all is said and done I'm going for juvenile female Kestrel?

 

[Tri-Counties Birder]

Went for a walk with the hound today, when I saw this bird from above I just said Kestrel to myself and kept on walking. 30 minutes later I got down to where the bird was - and now I am not sure.

Reasons:

[1] normally I see two male kestrel, here's only one bird.
[2] we have an occasional Goshawk around here.

Anyway - looks like a scruffy juvenile or something that's molting anyway, and I just don't have enough experience at all to ID this.

As you'll see - light was very variable.

When all is said and done I'm going for juvenile female Kestrel?

You're in the wrong forum!

Oh well, it is definitely a Kestrel, not sure about age or sex (probably male).

 

[SimonG4ELI]

You're in the wrong forum!

Oh well, it is definitely a Kestrel, not sure about age or sex (probably male).

Sorry - can someone move this to the correct forum please - I blame the beer

 

[wintibird]

I would also go for male, because of the greyish head. As said, definitely a Kestrel.

 

[SimonG4ELI]

I would also go for male, because of the greyish head. As said, definitely a Kestrel.

Any idea why so scruffy?

FWIW was out today in the cloud and mist - great day, got first 'proper' pictures of a Golden Eagle, it was being attacked by a raven!

 

[Tri-Counties Birder]

Any idea why so scruffy?

FWIW was out today in the cloud and mist - great day, got first 'proper' pictures of a Golden Eagle, it was being attacked by a raven!

I think the 'scruffiness' may just be a combination of moult and the elements.

Lets see the Golden Eagle pics then.

 

[SimonG4ELI]

I think the 'scruffiness' may just be a combination of moult and the elements.

Lets see the Golden Eagle pics then.

Hi Sean,

Sadly it was very cloudy and misty - the eagle pictures are very poor. I'll be up over the weekend in the hope of better things.

Still - at least I know there is an eagle, not just a rumour.

 

[robinm]

Not a bad start - look forward to some more eagle pics :t:

I have moved your thread

 

[tyrannulet]

You're in the wrong forum!

Oh well, it is definitely a Kestrel, not sure about age or sex (probably male).

my guess is a juvenile male

 

[SimonG4ELI]

Not a bad start - look forward to some more eagle pics :t:

I have moved your thread

Sadly this weekend the area is hosting a big motorbike meeting in the mountains, making lots of noise and - more noise.

http://www.fattire.ch/2006/default.asp

As a result I'll be elsewhere, not sure where yet. Weather forecast is grotty anyway.